The small, but remarkable Alien Art Center (金馬賓館; www.facebook.com/ALIENArtCentre) is one of Taiwan's strongest art museums and has the bonus of a unique location. From the '50s to the '70s this white building was Kinma Military Hostel, a hotel for young men departing for compulsory military service on the islands of Kinmen and Matsu. There is a display on the building's unusual history, which explains and documents this once-transitional space with old photographs and the oral histories of veterans.
Now this site of farewells is home to an excellent curation of modern and contemporary art by Taiwanese and overseas artists, including photography by Taiwanese Juan I-jong, works playing with light and space by American James Turrell; installations by two Hong Kong artists; and abstract jewelry designed by a German artist.
The museum is a five-minute walk from Shoushan Light Rail Station.
Outside of museums, the best galleries for viewing the modern and contemporary art of Kaohsiung and southern Taiwan include Sin Pin Pier Absolutely Art Space (新浜碼頭藝術空間; sinpink.com) and Orogeny Art (噪山藝文空間; facebook.com/orogeny.art).